Rafael Nadal has tested positive for COVID-19 and may miss Australia Open.
Gatekeepers News reports that Nadal after making his comeback from injury in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event in Abu Dhabi last week has tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival in Spain on Monday.
The 35-year-old revealed that he was having some ‘unpleasant moments’, hoping to feel better soon, adding that would keep people informed about his plans over future tournaments.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion said, “I wanted to announce that on my return home after playing the Abu Dhabi tournament, I have tested positive for COVID in the PCR test that has been performed on me when I arrived in Spain.”
According to him, he had tested negative at all times when he was in Kuwait and Abu Dhabi and had last tested negative on Friday last week.
On Saturday, Nadal was seen with former King of Spain Juan Carlos, 83, ahead of his match against Andy Murray.
Although Carlos is said to ‘feel fine’, EFE Noticias has since reported that the royal will undergo a PCR test as a result of Nadal’s positive reading.
Nadal’s comeback from his four-month foot injury at the exhibition event – his first tournament appearance since the Citi Open in Washington in August – ended in two close defeats by Murray and Denis Shapovalov.
“I am having some unpleasant moments but I hope that I will improve little by little. I am now homebound and have reported the result to those who have been in contact with me,’ he wrote.
“As a result of the situation I have to have total flexibility with my calendar and I will analyse my options depending on my evolution.
“I will keep you informed of any decisions about my future tournaments.”
Gatekeepers News earlier reported that he was knocked out at Roland Garros in the semi-finals and was forced to pull out of Wimbledon, the Tokyo Olympics, and the US Open.
